Anti-snoring apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for treatment of snoring in adults. The method provides the steps for snoring reduction or elimination through jaw and mouth support, acupressure, magnetic therapy, and optional electronically controlled 9-volt electro-magnetic current applied to and around certain acupuncture points on the wearer's head. The apparatus is a device that is designed to be worn by a snorer while sleeping to aid in reducing or eliminating snoring in adults. In a preferred form of the invention, the user wears an apparatus on the head during sleep which is comprised of two major parts: two composite ear pads, an adjustable elastic head, jaw, chin and lower mouth support system; this apparatus reduces or eliminates snoring in many adults. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications of the method and apparatus described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is to be construed in light of the claims made herein.

1 . A method of treating snoring in adult humans comprising: 
 a) adjustable support for the jaw, chin, and mouth to keep the mouth closed during sleep;    b) stimulation by means of applying physical pressure to and around certain acupuncture and acupressure “points” on the head;    c) application of both diffuse and focused magnetic fields that are applied on and around certain acupuncture and acupressure “points” on the head.    d) application of very small pulsed and/or persistent electrical current to the wearer's skin surface at and around acupuncture “points” through an optional 9-volt battery-powered electronic control system.    
   
   
       2 . A lightweight, adjustable apparatus for keeping the mouth closed during sleep. Worn during sleep for reducing or eliminating non-apnea, mouth-related snoring in adults, the apparatus is comprised of: 
 a) an adjustable elastic device which embodies a bio-mechanical design that supports the jaw, chin and mouth, together with acupressure and magnetic therapy features, in such a manner as to gently keep the mouth firmly closed during sleep, thus reducing or temporarily stopping snoring caused by open-mouth breathing;    d) An ear pad system of two individual and non-identical composite pads that are constructed of suitable hypoallergenic or non-allergenic material, with one or more embedded substrates of magnetic materials;    e) An optional substrate of plastic material (which may be electrically conductive) which can contain a circuit and very low-voltage power source for enhanced stimulation of acupuncture and acupressure points on and around the ear;    f) The ear pad design incorporates gentle, and both intermittent and persistent pressure on and around certain acupressure points on the head (as many as 94 specific points per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of acupuncture and acupressure proposed standards, as documented in the World Health Organization's Medical Library Proposed Standards for acupuncture and acupressure. These acupressure points may be beneficial in aiding in the reduction of stress, help induce sleep, and reduce or eliminate the tendency toward snoring in humans;    g) the ear pad may contain a composite magnetic substrate of both sheet and point magnetic materials that provides both focused and diffuse magnetic therapy that is applied to certain acupuncture areas by means of a combination of different magnetic materials and methods.    h) an embodiment of the ear pad may contain an electrically conductive plastic substrate that permits a very small pulsed and/or persistent electrical current to be applied through contacts to the wearer's skin surface on the head and neck at and around certain acupuncture “points” by an optional 9-volt battery-powered control system.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user places said apparatus on the head, adjusting both the position and tension of the fabric sleep cap and mouth support “wings,” as well as the position of each ear pad for comfort.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus supports the mouth in a manner that permits the wearer to sleep with the mouth closed, reducing or eliminating most oral-related snoring.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wearer experiences concurrent stimulation through both persistent and intermittent physical pressure applied to certain acupuncture and acupressure points on the head and neck by action of the device being worn on the sleeper's head while asleep—the frequent movement of the sleeper creates these varying pressures.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wearer experiences concurrent stimulation through magnetic therapy applied to certain acupuncture and acupressure points on the head and neck.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wearer experiences a small pulsed and/or persistent electrical current through an etched circuit on an electrically-conductive substrate in the ear pad, and connected to both the magnetic substrate and contacts on the surface of the ear pad that penetrate the outer covering, which may be attached to an optional 9-volt DC battery powered electronic control system. This method can deliver a pulsed and/or persistent very low-voltage, very low-amperage electro-magnetic field at and near acupuncture points on the head and neck through optional surface contacts that connect the electrically-conductive and magnetic substrates and protrude through the foam outer covering next to the wearer's skin surface. The micro-current may also be conducted through contacts placed in the head and jaw support systems.  
   
   
       8 . Device may also be constructed without the embedded earpad system; this method is also claimed in this patent. The resulting device can help keep the mouth closed during sleep, but does not offer the added features provided by the earpad system.